NSC TO MEET TODAY
The National Security Council (NSC), chaired for a final time by outgoing President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, is set to convene today. The official agenda of the meeting reportedly includes developments concerning Iraq and Cyprus. Sezer, who will soon step down from the presidency to make way for his successor, is expected to make a farewell speech at the gathering. In addition, Naval Forces Commander Adm. Yener Karahanoglu and Air Forces Commander Gen. Faruk Comert, whose terms in office are concluding, will also be making their final NSC appearances. /Milliyet/

SEZER MAKES FAREWELL VISITS
Outgoing President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday began making farewell visits. During his visits to state institutions including the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), Religious Affairs Directorate and Board of Higher Education (YOK), Sezer reportedly thanked them for their performance during his seven-plus years in office. Sezer is expected to hand over his post following the election of a new president late this month, most likely on Aug. 28. /Star/

PRESIDENTIAL VOTE GOES TO ROUND 2 AFTER VICTORY ELUDES GUL IN FIRST ROUND
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) presidential candidate, yesterday fell short of the 341 votes needed to be elected in the first round of balloting in Parliament. Round two is set for Friday. The minimum number of votes required at this stage is 367; Gul is expected to be elected in the third round next week, when just 276 votes will suffice for victory. Gul competed against the Nationalist Movement Party's (MHP) Sebahattin Cakmakoglu and the Democratic Left Party's (DSP) Tayfun Icli. Cakmakoglu secured 70 votes, while Icli just won 13. The ballot was secret, but Gul appears to have secured the support of all 340 AKP deputies and also that of Muhsin Yazicioglu, representative of the one-seat Great Unity Party (BBP). Ufuk Aras, leader of the Freedom and Democracy Party (ODP), was there for the balloting but did not vote for Gul. With all parties other than the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) attending, 448 deputies were present. The MHP and DSP deputies were there to support their candidates, while the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) took part in the vote but apparently declined to support Gul. /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN: "AS PRESIDENT, GUL WILL BE IMPARTIAL"
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday held a meeting with his Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies at AKP headquarters in Ankara before the first-round presidential vote in Parliament. Addressing the deputies, Erdogan charged that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer had not acted impartially during his term in office. "Our candidate Abdullah Gul will be both impartial and active when he became the next president," said Erdogan. Stressing that the AKP had completed work on proposed revisions to the Constitution, the premier said the fruits of this work would be presented to Parliament on Oct. 1. Erdogan added that a referendum on a package of constitutional changes including popular election of the president will be held on Oct. 21. /Turkiye/

BAYKAL: "OUR REPUBLIC IS IN DANGER"
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said yesterday that Turkey's secular republic, which stands as the sole model for Islamic countries, is in danger. Addressing his deputies in a parliamentary meeting before the beginning of presidential balloting in Parliament, Baykal said that his party doesn't believe that leading presidential candidate Abdullah Gul is loyal to the principles of the republic, not just in words but in his heart. He also reiterated that the CHP would not attend the presidential balloting in Parliament, so as not to take responsibility for a "dangerous process" beginning in the country. He also criticized the Democratic Left Party's (DSP) decision to attend the vote by nominating its own candidate. /Cumhuriyet/

ERDOGAN, BUREAUCRATS TALK RECENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with State Minister for the Economy Ali Babcan and bureaucrats from the Central Bank and Treasury Undersecretariat. During the gathering, recent fluctuations in world markets and their effect on Turkey were taken up, along with necessary counter-measures. /Hurriyet/

TURKEY, IRAN SIGN ELECTRICITY AGREEMENT
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler stated yesterday that the Turkish private sector had reached a consensus with Iran to build three power stations. Guler said that he had held successful meetings with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, acting Petroleum Minister Gulam Hussein Nozeri and Energy Minister Perviz Fettah. Stating that they had signed a memorandum of understanding on electricity during his visit, Guler said that under this, three power stations will be built. Guler added that the two countries had agreed to develop cross-border electricity transmission lines through which 3-6 billion kilowatts of electricity per hour will be exchanged annually between the two during peak hours of electricity consumption. Guler added that this agreement would help both two countries economically due to the time difference between them. /Aksam/